Championing Voices with a Global Impact on Speech & Debate Access

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Kaushik Sathiyandrakumar. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

Kaushik Sathiyandrakumar has become a transformative force in the Speech & Debate community, driving and building important foundations: equity, education and opportunity. Initially joining the nonprofit Outreach Debate as Tennessee co-director, Kaushik led a grassroots fundraising campaign that raised over $500 and developed learning resources that reached more than 500 students. He also managed a social media network of over 5,000 users, amplifying the organization’s mission and connecting young debaters from all walks of life.

Recognizing his leadership, Kaushik was soon promoted to president of the International Cabinet. In this expanded role, he oversaw the creation and execution of five Speech & Debate camps designed to provide high-quality, accessible education to over 5,000 students in more than a dozen countries. From creating multilingual resources to curating mentorship opportunities, Kaushik worked to break down the barriers that often prevent students, especially those in underserved communities, from engaging in competitive speech activities.

Now, Kaushik is focused on expanding the Mockingbird Project in Alabama, a vital effort that is enabling hundreds of local students to participate in the National Speech & Debate Tournament. His work is opening doors not only to competition, but also to networking, confidence-building and lifelong skills in communication and critical thinking. Through every initiative, Kaushik brings a deep sense of purpose and inspiration, consistently encouraging others to rise with him.

With a time commitment of three hours per week year-round, Kaushik has juggled responsibilities that include organizing international tech platforms for 15,000 users, spearheading resource creation for 10,000+ students and raising over $10,000 in funding. His dedication, innovation and empathy exemplify what it means to lead with service, uplifting one student voice at a time.

Tell us about your volunteer role.

I served as the president of the International Cabinet for Outreach Debate, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting accessibility and connectivity within the Speech & Debate community. As part of this role, I facilitated three Speech & Debate camps and organized 150+ resources for over 5,000 international Speech & Debate students.

I also organized a fundraising effort that raised 5 figures for Speech & Debate accessibility initiatives to ensure that students would be able to enter and compete in tournaments with high entry fees. I am also spearheading an effort to publish a research paper to investigate political polarization among the youth and a media campaign that encompassed more than 20,000 followers. Additionally, I’ve facilitated an effort to be published in the Rostrum Magazine and the National Speech & Debate Association.

Why is this issue so important to you?

I understand the difference that it would make. Four years ago, I was a shy freshman who had been peer-pressured into joining Speech & Debate. A year later, I found Speech & Debate to be my passion, as it helped me find a voice in such a complex environment. When I began to compete more, I understood how hard it was to succeed at the activity. Fortunately, as I attended school in a high-income area, I was able to be mentored by qualified seniors, who allowed me to promote my trajectory in the activity. However, that’s not the case for many students. As I listened to hundreds of students learn the fundamentals for the first time, I realized that I wanted to make a difference and close this gap, which pushed me to join this initiative at the end of my sophomore year.

What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?

To increase our name recognition to the extent that every student within the Speech & Debate community knows who we are as an organization and knows that we’re the place to look when they’re first entering Speech & Debate, and may need help making their mark at whatever competition they are attending.

With such a saturated community with nonprofits, it’s difficult to stand out as an organization. I want to ensure that we are able to stand out and make sure that we are helping each and every student with the resources that we have to make sure that they are able to reach their optimal trajectory.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?

The most rewarding part of my work is to see the gratification from students when they understand a specific concept or have a huge tournament performance. It warms my heart to see them improve and reach their goals as it justifies that our mission is worthwhile and us dedicating our efforts to the cause is not something that is wasted, and that it has a real impact as a whole.

Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?

It’s what can help you find your passion and voice. For me, I was a student who was afraid to raise his voice and express his opinion. Speech & Debate taught me that every single word that was said has some sort of impact. It helped me make sure that I was able to grow and develop and get to the point where I am today. Every person has their own passion that’s undiscovered and needs to be found out. Being afraid of voicing your concern is going to hold you back from becoming the person that you’ll become.

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?

Don’t hesitate. The decision will bring you joy, as well as connections to be able to help you reach whatever goal you’re trying to.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Kaushik? Find local volunteer opportunities.